Learning French dans la Grande Pomme

Films

Below are recommendations of films I have seen, or which are on my list of films to see. I’ll update this section regularly. Most of the films below are available on Netflix. I have set a grade scale of 1 (poubelle) to 5 (excellence), with TBD denoting To Be Determined.

4/5 A cult film in France and internationally, Amélie follows the life of the character of the same name finding herself in the world, and seemingly looking for her destiny.

TBD Made a big splash when it came out, namely due to its various graphic sex scenes, this film has been commanded for its earnest portrayal of a lesbian relationship as well as being a particularly poignant love story.

TBD A remake of the Marseilles trilogy that came out in the 60s, Fanny and Marius, two separate films, are based on the work of Marcel Pagnol, one of France’s most renowned authors of the 20th century.

4/5 A harsh and candid story about a boy searching for his father, the latter whom doesn’t want anything to do with him. A beautiful film about family.

4/5 Leon is a killer-for-hire who takes under his wing a girl whose whole family has been murdered, seeking revenge. An awesome early 90s flick.

4/5 Perhaps one of the best well known French film abroad, The Chorists is set in a boarding school for juveniles and young misfits who learn to find a place in the world through singing in a choral.

TBD « Mathieu Amalric stars as author and Elle magazine editor Jean-Dominique Bauby, who suffered a stroke in 1995 that rendered him mute and paralyzed »

5/5 An original and stark account of the Khmer Rouge’s brutal regime in Cambodia. Narrated in French and Cambodian.

3/5 Based of a comic book (BD) series, the Rabbi’s Cat is unevenly paced but remains funny and beautifully animated.

TBD I don’t recall the movie well enough to give it a grade, The Visitors is a cult comedy revolving a couple of medieval heroes transported into modern day (90s) France through a magic spell. Hilarity ensues.